Water softener



A. FORSYTH V ssheets-sheet 1' m w w w m 3 Q m D 0n m w zit .MI.\\M\% Patented Sept. 10, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER SOFTENER Alexander R. Forsyth, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 7, 1943, Serial No. 513,272

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in water softeners, particularly for use ,in conjunction with various types of domestic water heaters, and has for its primary object to provide a device of this character comprising a novel construction, combination and arrangement whereby the softening agent may be expeditiously and thoroughly regenerated.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a water softener of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in operation, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a studyof the followin specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a water softener constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing a water heater mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the the water softener.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section through the device.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of another form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View through the modification.

Figure 6 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 5. Referring now to the drawings in detail, and to Figures 1, 2 and 3 thereof in particular, it will be seen that reference character I designates generally a cylindrical tank of suitable material and dimensions, said tank being provided with supporting legs 2. Mounted centrally in the tank I is a stand pipe 3. The stand pipe 3 extends upwardly through the bottom 4 of the tank I to a point adjacent the top 5 of said tank. At its lower end, the stand pipe 3 is connected at B to a hard water supply pipe I. A valve 8 controls the flow of water to the stand pipe 3.

Flanges III are fixed in the upper and lower portions of the tank I and on the stand pipe 3. Removable plates II are mounted on the flanges Ill. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings, the plates II comprise perforated segments I2. Sectional metallic rings I3 rest on the marginal portions of the plates II and assist in retaining said plates in position on the flanges I by gravity. It will be observed that the stand pipe 3 passes upwardly through the plates I I.

The plates II divide the tank I into what may be considered a lower chamber I4, a comparatively large intermediate chamber I and an upper chamber IS. The chamber I5 is for the reception of zeolite between upper and lower layers of fine gravel or course sand. The perforations in the plates I I are small enough to prevent the passage of such fine gravel or course sand. The sand in the lower portion of the chamber I5 preferably is approximately to the level of the dotted line H. The upper layer of gravel or sand may be of substantially the same thickness.

A hard Water inlet I8, comprising a control valve I9, connects the supply line I to the chamber I4 through the bottom 4 of the tank I. Also connected to the bottom l of the tank I and communicating with the chamber I4 is a drain line 20 to any suitable point of discharge. A control valve 2| is provided for the drain 20. A removable closure 22 is threadedly mounted in the top 5 of the tank I. Mounted on the top 5 of the tank I and rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner is a water heater 23. A soft water pipe 24 connects the inlet of th heater 23 to the top 5 of the tank I. A control valve 25 is provided for the soft water outlet 24. The lower portion of the heater 23 is provided with a door 26 whereby access may be readily had to the burner, if any, beneath said heater, the valve 25, th closure 22, et cetera.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the valves l9 and 25 open and the valves 8 and 2I closed, water enters the chamber I4 from the line I through the inlet I8. The lower perforated plate I I functions as a baffle for distributing the water which flows upwardly through th gravel or sand and chemical in the chamber I5 into the chamber I 6. From the chamber IS the now softened water flows through the outlet 24 to the heater 23. The outlet 24 may also be connected to various plumbing fixtures. The segments l2 permit the removable plates II to be readily installed and removed from the tank I through the opening in the top 5 of said tank when the closure 22 is removed. To regenerate the softening agent in the chamber I5, the valves I9 and 25 are closed. The closure 22 is removed and a quantity of salt is placed in the Water in the chamber I6 of the tank I. The closure 22 is then replaced and the valves 8 and 2| are opened. Thus, water enters the chamber I 6 from the stand pipe 3 and forms a brine with the salt. This brine flows downwardly through the softening agent in the chamber I5 and leaves the tank I through the drain 20. When the operation has been completed, the tank is flushedwith water from the line I for carrying off the brine. The valves 8 and 2| are then closed again, the valves I9 and 25 are reopened and the softener is again in operation.

In the embodiment of the device illustrated in Figure 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, reference character 28 designates a cylindrical tank comprising supporting legs 29. A vertical, off-center partition 39 provides comparatively large and small chemical and brine chambers 35 and 32, respectively, in the tank 28. As best seen in Figure 6 of the drawings, the chambers 3! and 32 are segmental in horizontal section.

Mounted in the upper and lower portions of the chamber 3! are perforated, removable segmental plates 33. With the exception of the specific shape of their segments, the plates 33 are substantially similar in their construction and mounting to the plates l. The plates 33 have supporting flanges 33a and a sectional retaining ring 3312 and subdivid the chamber 3! into lower, intermediate and upper compartments 34, 35 and 36, respectively.

A pipe 3? passes through the upper portion of the partition as for drawing brine from the lower portion of the chamber 32into the upper portion of the compartment 35. The pipe 531 is provided with an upturned discharge end 38 for directing the brine upwardly as it enters the compartment 36.

A stand pip 39 extends upwardly in the brine chamber 32 through the bottom 46 of the tank 28, said stand pipe 39 terminating adjacent the top t! of the tank. At its lower end, the stand pipe 39 is connected to a hard water supply line 4-2. A control valve 43 is provided for the stand pipe 39. A pipe i l connects the line 42 to the compartment 3 of the softening chamber 3!. A valve 15 is interposed in th line @2 between the pipe i l. and the stand pipe 39. Also connected to the pipe t6 is a drain 46 which is provided with a control valve 41.

Comparatively large and small removable closures G8 and Gil provide access, respectively, to the chambers 3! and 32 of the tank 28, said closures being threadedly mounted in the top 4| of said tank. A soft water outlet 58 connects the compartment 35 of the chamber 3| to a suitable water heater to be mounted on top of the tank 28, aid outlet i)v beingprovided with a control valve 52. A line 53 connects the outlet 5%) with various plumbing fixtures.

In operation, the valves 43 and 47 are normally closed while the valves 55 and 52 are open. Thus, hard water from the supply line 42 enters the chamber 3! of the tank 28 and passes upwardly through the softening agent and grav l or sand in the compartment 35. The softened water leaves the compartment 35 through the outlet 59. To. regenerate the softening agent in the chamber 35 of the tank 28, the valve 52 is closed and the closure 58 is removed to permit the chamber 32 to fill with water to the desired level from the chamber 36 through the pipe 31. When the water in the chamber rises to the desired level, the valve is closed. Salt is then placed in the chamber 32 for forming a brine solution. The valve M is opened for drawing the brine from the chamber 32 into the compartment 36 through the pipe 31', said brine flowing downwardly through the zeolite in the chamber 3! and being drained off through the pipes it and 45. The closure 39 is then replaced. The valve $3 is then opened for the passage of Water under pressure through the pipe 39 into the chamber 32. This water flows downwardly in the chamber 32 and upwardly in the pip 37 into the compartment 36. The water then flows downwardly in the chamber 3i and discharges through the pipes 44 and 46, thus thoroughly flushing the apparatus.

It is believed that the many advantages of a water softener constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although preferred embodiments of the apparatus are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of constructionv may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A water softener comprising a tank, vertically spaced perforated plates for the reception of a softening agent therebetween mounted in fixed position within said tank, a valve-controlled drain communicating directly with the bottom of the tank beneath said plates, a valve-controlled inlet pipe communicating directly with the bottom of the tank beneath said plates, mean to supply water to the tank above said plates including a valve-controlled stand pipe connected to the inlet pipe and extending upwardly into the tank through the bottom thereof to a point adjacent the top of said tank, said stand pipe passing through the perforated plates, and a valvecontrolled outlet pipe connected to the top of the tank.

2. A water softener of the character described comprising a tank, said tank including a top and bottom, a vertical partition in the tank providing chambers therein, vertically spaced perforated plates, for the reception of a softening agent therebetween, mounted in one of the chambers, an inlet pipe for unsoftened Water passing through the upper portion of the partition and connecting the upper portion of said one chamber above said perforated plates with the lower portion of the other chamber, a valve-controlled stand pipe in said other chamber extending upwardly through the bottom of the tank to a point adjacent the top thereof, a water supply line connected to the stand pipe, a pipe connecting the supply line to the lower portion of said one chamber, a valve interposed in the supply line between the stand pipe and the second-named pipe, a

3 valve-controlled drain line connected to the second-named pipe, and a valve-controlled outlet pipe for softened water connected to the upper portion of said one chamber.

3. In a water softener of the character described, an upright tank having a top opening provided with a removable closure, means to selectively supply water to the top or bottom of said tank including a valve-controlled stand pipe extending upwardly into the tank through the bottom thereof to a point adjacent the top of the same, vertically spaced flanges mounted in the tank, vertically spaced perforated plates for the reception therebetween of a water softening agent removably mounted within said tank in fixed positions, said plates including separate perforated segments resting upon said flanges, said segments being of such size a to be individualy removable through said top opening, sectional metallic rings removably resting on the marginal portions of the plate for retaining said 

